Tape serving machine



July 16, '1963 T. H. KRUEGER 3,09 ,776

TAPE SERVING MACHINE Filed April 22. 1960 4 Sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR. Theodore H.Krueger.

July 16, 1963 T. H. KRUEGER 3,097,776

' TAPE SERVING MACHINE Filed April 22, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR.

Theodore H. Krueger. BY Y 911044}, 910M4 5 9km.

ATTORNEYS.

July 16, 1963 T. H. KRUEGER 3,097Q776 TAPE SERVING MACHINE Filed April 22, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A INVENTOR. I I52 28 Theodore H. Kr ueger BY FIG .4 mmpzwwmo ATTOR NEYS.

July 16, 1963. T. H. KRUEGER 3,097,776

TAPE SERVING MACHINE Filed April 22. 1960 4 Sheets-Shem, 4

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INVENTOR. Theodore H. Krueger- United States Patent 3,097,776 TAPE SERVING MACHINE Theodore H. Krueger, Stratford, Conn. Better Packages, Inc., Shelton, Conn.) Filed Apr. 22, 1960, Scr. No. 24,031 8 Claims. (Cl. 226-11) This invention relates to machines for serving strip material and is especially adapted to the dispensing of gummed package sealing tape in measured lengths.

In my Patent Number 2,405,790 I have shown a machine for this purpose characterized by tape feeding means so organized that when a measured strip of tape is removed from the machine, the machine is automatically set in motion to feed a second measured strip. A principal feature of the present invention relates to an improved construction for accomplishing this result. A simplified and more rapidly operating machine is prov-idcd in which the mechanism resets itself, immediately after a strip has been measured and cut, in a condition to instantly start delivery of another strip upon removal of the strip already cut. The elements of the machine do not have to go through a complete cycle of predeterlength, such .as one complete revolution of a clutch, irrespective of the length of strip being delivered, so that there is a saving in time and quicker operation, particularly where strips of less than the capacity of the machine are being delivered. The present invention, however, secures all of the advantages of the machine of the patent including particularly that of supporting the out, measured and moistened strip until it is ready to be applied to the article to be sealed so as to permin a period of conditioning to allow the gum to become softened for most eflective use, while the previous strip is being applied.

The machine of the present invention. also preferably is provided with switch means in addition to the automatic control whereby any length of strip may be delivered by manual operation, up to the maximum length of the strip for which the machine has been adjusted. The machine of the present invention also embodies tape feeding and control instrumentalities applicable to dispensers of various types.

The objects of the invention include the provision of an improved and simplified tape dispensing machine for delivering measured lengths of tape, removal of one length of tape initiating the feed of the next length. Am other object is the provision of improved tape dispensing instrumentalities capable of random manual operation for delivering any selected lengths of tape up to the capacity of the machine. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention chosen to illustrate the principles thereof.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention, parts of the control housing and of the main casing being broken away;

'FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the opposite side of the machine from that shown in FIG. 1, portions of the easing being broken away and certain parts being shown in longitudinal vertical section;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the machine, parts being broken away and omitted;

FIG. 4 is a schematic wiring diagnam of the machine;

FIG. 5 is .a detail in vertical section taken at the position indicated by line 55 in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of certain of the parts shown particularly in FIGURES l and. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the machine cornprises a casing 10 having a compartment in which is 2 mounted a roll of gummed tape 12,. The tape is drawn from the roll v12 over suitable guide rollers between a pair of feed rolls 14- and -16, at least one of which is driven. In the construction shown the roll 16 is driven from an electric motor 17 by means of a chain 18. The roll 14 is mounted on a stud 21 carried by an arm 20 which swings about a shaft 22 so as to move the roll into contact with the tape and press the same against the feed roll 16 .and cause feeding of the tape. The arm 20 is actuated by a lever 24 which is pulled down by a link 26 connected to the armature of a solenoid 28 which is energized whenever tape is to be fed. The lever 24 forms pact of a yoke 30 which is pivoted to swing on a shaft 32 and which transmits movement to the arm 20 through connections including a compression spring 27. The yoke 30 carries .a movable knife 34 which co-acts a fixed blade 36 to sever the tape. When the solenoid 28 is energized, the yoke and movable knife 34 are moved to their uppermost position where the knife is out of the path of the tape leaving the feed rolls. When the solenoid is d e-energized, the yoke 30 carrying the knife is instantly drawn down by the action of a spring 38 connected to the yoke, thereby severing the piece of tape which has previously been fed. The action of the spring, of course, also moves the poll 14 out of contact with the tape so that feed is instantly stopped. Ordinarily the feed motor is stopped at the same time the solenoid is tie-energized, but this is not essential as the separation of the feed rolls results in an instant stoppage of the tape feed.

In the particular construct-ion illustrated the machine is intended for the delivering of gummed package-sealing tape which requires moistening before use. In such a machine a moistening couple is provided which in the example shown includes an inverted brush 40 mounted in a water reservoir 4-2. Above the brush is a pivoted pressure plate 44 and as the tape passes between the pressure plate and the brush it is moistened. Furthermore, the strip which has been cut off will remain suspended by its rear end between the pressure plate and the brush until it is manually withdrawn.

In the construction shown the feeding of each piece of tape is automatically initiated by the withdrawal of the previous piece of tape, this being accomplished by means of a feeler element or finger 5(l which is mounted on a transverse shaft 52 above the pressure plate and which drops down through a slot in the pressure plate. Pressure is applied to the tape to press it against the brush by means of weights 51, a pair of weights being employed in the construction shown so as to leave a space between them through which the feeler finger can act. As soon as the advancing end of a piece of tape passes over the brush and under the pressure plate, it will lift the feeler finger and will hold it in a lifted position during the feeding, moistening and cutting off of the strip. When the strip is manually withdrawn for application to a package, the feeler finger will drop and through mechanism to be described will initiate the feeding of the next strip.

Measurement and Control Means The length of strip to be delivered is measured by means of a reciprocable or loscillatable measuring control element which is driven concurrently with the feed of tape in either a straight or curved path and which returns to a zero position after each feeding operation. In the construction illustrated this control element is of a rotary character and comprises a control disc or plate 60 mounted on an arbor 62 and rotated by means of a friction wheel 64 which is made of or surfaced with rubber or other friction material, neoprene being preferred. The friction wheel is fixed to a gear 66 which is driven by a pinion 68 on the end of the shaft 70 on which the feed roller 16 is fixed. Every time the feed rollers grip the tape so that the tape is advanced, the friction wheel 64 is drawn into contact with the periphery of the disc 60 so as to advance the same proportionally to the feed of the tape. Owing to the relatively small diameter of the friction wheel 64 and to the reduction gears 66, 68, the disc 60 is rotated at a low rate so that less than one revolution of the disc 60 will be accomplished while a piece of tape of the maximum capacity of the machine is being delivered. A clock type or other suitable spring 72 is mounted in a barrel 74 and serves to return the disc to its predetermined starting position as soon as the friction wheel 64 is lifted out of driving engagement with the disc.

The friction wheel 64 and gear 66 are rotatable on a stud 76 carried by an arm 78 pivoted on the shaft 70. On the end of the arm 78, there is pivoted by a pin 79 a sleeve 80 through which passes the end of a pull rod 82 screwed into a block 84 which is pivoted to a stud 85 carried by the yoke 30 so that when the yoke and arm 20 are drawn down by the solenoid to move the feed roll 14 into contact with the tape, the friction wheel 64 is engaged with the disc 60. The effective length of the rod 82 may be varied by turning the rod by its head 86, which may be held in adjusted position by a lock spring 88. In this way the proper frictional engagement may be insured between the friction wheel and the disc.

The disc 60 has a bracket 90 fixed thereto which carries a contact member 92 preferably in the form of a stiff leaf spring. In the zero position of the disc this spring contacts a button 94 on a resettable switch 96 which is mounted in fixed position on a bracket 98 on a portion of the casing of the machine. The length of tape fed is determined by the arc of travel of the disc 60 and contact member 92 before the contact member 92 reaches the button 94 on the switch. This are can be adjusted by the adjustment of a backstop limiting the movement of the contact member 92 away from the switch 96. The back stop is shown at 100 and is engaged by bracket 102 fixed to the disc 60. The back stop may be provided with a cushion such as a rubber cup if desired. The back stop is mounted on a bracket 103 fixed to a scale-carrying disc 104 rotatably carried on the arbor 62 and provided with length indicia 106. The scale disc 104 may be locked in any suitable position of adjustment on the instrument casing thereby determining the position of the back stop 100. Any suitable means for fixing the scale disc in its adjusted position may be utilized so long as this means is firm enough to enable the back stop to withstand the blows of the bracket 102 every time the measuring disc 60 is returned by its spring 72. In the construction shown a ring 108 having a series of holes 110 therein is fixed in the outer wall of the control housing 111 attached to the casing. Attached to the outside of the scale disc 104 is a stiff flat spring member 112 which carries one or more pins 114, three being shown. When it is desired to adjust the position of the scale disc, the outer end 115 of the spring 112 is bent out sufiiciently to withdraw the pins 114 from the holes 110 in which they may at the time be engaged, and then to move the spring 112 and disc 104 around until the desired length of tape to be delivered is indicated by the number on the scale opposite to the fixed arrow 116 on the casing. The spring 112 is then released so that the pins 114 will enter the holes. corresponding with the tape length indicated. The back stop 100 is now fixed in an adjusted position which will permit the measuring disc 60 to move back so that when the next feed is started, the are through which the measuring disc and contact member 92 will have to move before the contact member reaches the switch button 94 will result in feeding of the length of tape indicated by the scale.

The feeler finger 50, as above stated, is fixed to a shaft 52. At the end of this shaft is a crank 120 which is connected by means of a link 122 with a heavy lever 124 automatically stops the feed. Ordinarily,

pivoted on a wall of the casing, as indicated at 126. The lever 124 carries a contact screw 128 the end of which engages a button 130 on the top lOf the resettable switch 96. Proper engagement between the screw and the button may be secured by adjustment of the screw 128 and of a companion stop screw 132 the end of which engages the surface of the bracket 98. When a piece of tape is removed from between the moistening couple so as to permit the finger 50 to fall, the button 130 \of the switch is pushed down by the Weight of the lever 124, closing the circuit through the motor and solenoid, thereby starting the feed and simultaneously starting the movement of the measuring .disc 60 by reason of the engagement of friction wheel 64 therewith. The tape is now fed until the contact 92 engages the button 94 and resets the switch 96 so as to break the circuit and de-energize the solenoid and motor. Feed now stops, and the tape is cut off by the spring-actuated knife, the end of the tape being suspended between the brush and pressure plate. When the feed stops, the friction roller releases the measuring wheel 60 which is returned by its spring 72 until the bracket 102 engages the stop 100. The machine now remains in this condition until the piece of tape is withdrawn, when another cycle is started.

Where the machine is to be used merely for feeding a large number of pieces of tape of a particular length as fixed by the setting of the adjusting spring 112, no further mechanism is required. However, it is frequently desirable to feed manually pieces of tape of different lengths within the capacity of the machine, and this may be accomplished by providing a manual or treadle-operated switch for setting the machine in operation and stopping the feed when desired independently of the feeler finger 50. For this purpose the machine as shown is provided with a finger operated switch 134 and with a shunt switch 136. FIGURE 4 is a wiring diagram showing how these switches operate. The leads are plugged into the power line. If automatic operation dependent upon the finger 50 is desired, the shunt switch is closed so as to throw in the shunt 152. Now when the resettable switch 96 is closed by the removal of a previously fed strip of tape and the dropping of the finger 50, the circuit is closed through the motor and solenoid and feed takes place. Feed will continue until the measuring disc 60 moves far enough to bring the contact member 92 against the switch button 94, which breaks the circuit and stops the feed. When this piece of tape is withdrawn the switch button 130 is again pushed by the lever 124 and another piece of tape is fed.

When it is desired to use the manual control, then the shunt switch 136 is opened and the shunt cut out, as shown in FIGURE 4. The previously fed piece of tape having been removed by the switch 96 is now in closed position but the circuit is still open at the switch 134. The operator can now close the switch 134 and feed tape until he opens the switch 134 or until the contact member reaches the switch button 94, opens the switch 96 and when the operator is operating the dispenser manually by means of the switch 134, he will the feeding a number of pieces of tape shorter than the capacity of the machine. He will therefore set the scale disc 104 to the maximum setting, or at least to a setting longer than any of the pieces which he intends to dispense manually. He can then manipulate switch 134 and feed any number of such shorter pieces of any length which he may wish. When he wishes to resume automatic or cyclic operation of the machine he merely sets the scale disc to the desired standard length, closes the shunt which cuts out the switch 134, whereupon the machine will operate every time a severed piece of tape is drawn out from under the finger 50.

It will be noted that in the preferred construction illustrated the resettable switch 96 is located in a fixed position on the machine and is set in closed position by the weighted arm 124 which drops whenever a piece of tape-is removed from under the finger. The resettable switch is set in open position by engagement of the contact member '92 which is driven up to the switch by the friction wheel =64. The length of tape fed depends upon the are through which the contact member is advanced to the stationary position of the reset switch. The stationary location of the switch is very desirable as it permits the use of a very simple operative connection from the finger 50. No adjustment is required in this connection, irrespective of the length of tape to be fed. Also, the fact that the position of the switch is fixed enables direct electrical connections to be made to it without any flexible connectors or the like. This fixed position is possible because the contact member 92 always moves to the same terminal spot, namely, the fixed location of the switch, adjustments being secured by the adjustable back stop. There are no electrical connections on any moving part such as the back stop or the measuring disc 60. This feature, namely, that of a fixed switch in combination with a reciprocating measuring and control element carrying -a contact member for setting the switch and a back stop for limiting the return movement of the control element, is applicable to 1 feed control constructions in which the travel of the control element is back and forth in a straight line or otherwise, and is not limited to rotary control elements. 1

In the accompanying drawings one preferred embodiment-of the invention is illustrated to show the best mode now known to me for practicing the invention, but il do not wish to be limited to the specific construction illustna'ted and I intend to cover my invention in whatever forms its principles may be embodied.

' I claim:

1. In a machine for dispensing strip material in measured lengths, intermittently acting tape dispensing means, electrical means including a resettable switch for starting and stopping the tape dispensing means, a-tape contacting element movable by the advancing tape being fed, a switch actuating element connected with said tape contacting element and se'ttable in a condition to actuate said switch to start the feed of tape when a piece of previously fed tape is removed from contact with said tape contacting element, and means for resetting the switch to stop the tape feeding operation immediately on completion of the feeding of a measured length of tape and to simultaneously place the machine in condition for another tape dispensing operation.

2. In a machine for dispensing strip material in measured lengths, intermittently acting tape dispensing means, electrical means including a resettable switch for starting and stopping the tape dispensing means, a tape contacting element movable by the advancing tape being fed, a switch actuating element connected with said tape contacting element and settable in a condition to actuate said switch to start the feed of tape when a piece of previously fed tape is removed from contact with said tape contacting element, means for actuating the switch to stop the tape feeding operation immediately on completion of the feeding of a measured length of tape, said last named means comprising a reciprocable control element having a switch contact member, means for advancing said control element proportionately to the feed of tape, a backstop for said control element, means for returning said control element to said backstop on completion of the tape feed, and means for adjusting said backstop so as to limit the return movement of said control element, the length of tape fed being determined by the length of travel of the control element from its position against the backstop to the position of engagement of the switch contact member on the control element with the switch.

3. In a tape dispensing machine, tape feeding rolls, electric motor means for driving at least one of said rolls, electrically controlled means for drawing said rolls into gripping engagement with the tape and for releasing the same therefrom, said last named electrically controlled means including a resettable switch, a reciprocable control disk, a contact member on the control disk for actuating said resettable switch when the control disk is advanced, means for advancing the control disk proportionately to the movement of said tape feeding rolls when the tape is being fed, means for releasing the control disk from said advancing means when the rolls are separated so as to permit return of the control disk to an initial position, an adjustable backstop for limiting the return movement of the control disk, means for returning the control disk, a tape contact element and a switch actuating means connected with said tape contact element and settable when the tape contact element is contacted by the tape being fed in a condition to reset the switch upon removal of tape from contact with said tape contact element.

4. In a tape dispensing machine, tape feeding rolls, electric motor means for driving at least one of said rolls, electrically controlled means for drawing said rolls into gripping engagement with the tape and for releasing the same therefrom, said electrically controlled means including an electric circuit including a resettable switch, a manually operable switch and a shunt switch for shunting out the manually operable switch, a reciprocable control member, a contact member on the control member for actuating said resettable switch when the control member is advanced, means for advancing the control member proportionately to the movement of said tape feeding rolls when the tape is being fed, means for releasing the control member from said advancing means when the rolls are separated so as to permit return of the control mem ber to an initial position, an adjustable backstop for limiting the return movement of the control member, means for returning the control member, a tape contact element, and switch actuatingmeans forthe resettable switch connected with said tape contact element and settable when the tape contact element is contacted by the tape being fed in a condition to reset the resettable switch upon removal of tape from contact with said tape contact element, said manually operable switch when said shunt switch is open permitting manual operation of the feeding of lengths of tape shorter than the length which will be fed when feeding is controlled by said tape contact element.

5. In a tape dispensing machine, tape feed rolls, motor means for driving at least one of said rolls, electrically controlled means for drawing said rolls into gripping engagement with the tape and for releasing the same therefrom, said electrically controlled means including an elec tric circuit including a resettable switch mounted in predetermined position upon the tape dispensing machine, a reciprocable control disk, a friction wheel for rotating said control disk in one direction, means for rotating said friction wheel whenever the feed rolls are actuated to feed tape, means for drawing the friction wheel into driving engagement with the control disk whenever the feed rolls are in gripping engagement with the tape, a contact member mounted on said control disk and movable into switch operating position upon forward movement of the control disk, a stop bracket on the control disk, a backstop for engagement with the stop bracket, means for returning the control disk on release of the friction wheel from driving engagement therewith until said stop bracket engages said backstop, an indexing disk rotatably mounted upon the machine, said backstop being mounted on said indexing disk, and means for fixing the indexing disk in adjusted position on the frame of the machine so as to fix the position of the backstop and the maximum length of travel of the control disk between a position in which said stop bracket on the control disk is in engagement with the backstop, and the position in which the contact member on the control disk is in operative engagement with said switch.

6. In a tape dispensing machine, tape feed rolls, motor means for driving at least one of said rolls, electrically controlled means for drawing said rolls into gripping engagement with the tape and for releasing the same therefrom, said electrically controlled means including an electric circuit including a resettable switch mounted in predetermined position upon the tape dispensing machine, a reciprocable control disk, a friction wheel for rotating said control disk in one direction, means for rotating said friction wheel whenever the feed rolls are actuated to feed tape, means for drawing the friction wheel into driving engagement with the control disk whenever the feed rolls are in gripping engagement with the tape, a contact member mounted on said control disk and movable into switch operating position upon forward movement of the control disk, a stop bracket on the control disk, a backstop for engagement with the stop bracket, means for returning the control disk on release of the friction wheel from driving engagement therewith until said step bracket engages said backstop, an indexing disk rotatably mounted upon the machine, said backstop being mounted on said indexing disk, means for fixing the indexing disk in adjusted position on the frame of the machine so as to fix the position of the backstop and the maximum length of travel of the control disk between a position in which said stop bracket on the control disk is in engagement with the backstop, and the position in which the contact member on the control disk is in operative engagement with said switch, a tape contact element mounted adjacent to the point of tape delivery and actuable by the advancing end of a piece of tape, and means for actuating said resettable switch operatively connected with said tape contact element and set in a condition to operate said resettable switch upon removal of a piece of tape from contact with said tape contacting element.

7. In a machine for dispensing strip material in measured lengths, intermittently acting tape dispensing means, a reciprocable control element, means for advancing the control element in proportion to the length of tape fed, means located in fixed position for stopping the advance of the control element and the tape feeding means simultaneously, a backstop for said control element, means for returning the control element against said backstop, and finger actuatable means for setting the backstop in adjusted position and for quickly changing said posi- 'tion, the length of tape fed being determined by the distance of travel of the control element forward from the backstop, said means for setting the backstop in adjusted position comprising a rotatable indexing disk upon which the backstop is mounted, said disk having a finger actuatable spring arm mounted thereon, a pin carried by said arm, and a plate fixed to a stationary part of the machine having a series of holes therein, any one of which may be engaged by said pin so as to determine the position of adjustment of the backstop.

8. In a machine for dispensing strip material in measured lengths, intermittently acting tape dispensing means, electrical means including a resettable switch for starting and stopping the tape dispensing means, means for supporting a piece of tape in the machine after it has been fed, means for sensing the presence of said supported fed piece of tape, said sensing means being actuatable by withdrawal of said piece of tape from the machine, a switch actuating element operatively connected with said sensing means to be actuated thereby on withdrawal of said piece of tape, said switch actuating element being settable in a condition to actuate said switch to start the feed of tape when a piece of previously fed tape is removed, and means for resetting the switch to stop the tape feeding operation immediately on completion of the feeding of a measured length of tape and to simultaneously place the machine in condition for another tape dispensing operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,405,790 Krueger Aug. 13, 1946 2,757,730 Hempel Aug. 7, 1956 2,776,833 Lakso Jan. 8, 1957 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR DISPENSING STRIP MATERIAL IN MEASURED LENGTHS, INTERMITTENTLY ACTING TAPE DISPENSING MEANS, ELECTRICAL MEANS INCLUDING A RESETTABLE SWITCH FOR STARTING AND STOPPING THE TAPE DISPENSING MEANS, A TAPE CONTACTING ELEMENT MOVABLE BY THE ADVANCING TAPE BEING FED, A SWITCH ACTUATING ELEMENT CONNECTED WITH SAID TAPE CONTACTING ELEMENT AND SETTABLE IN A CONDITION TO ACTUATE SAID SWITCH TO START THE FEED OF TAPE WHEN A PIECE OF PREVIOUSLY FED TAPE IS REMOVED FROM CONTACT WITH SAID TAPE CONTACTING ELEMENT, AND MEANS FOR RESETTING THE SWITCH TO STOP THE TAPE FEEDING OPERATION IMMEDIATELY ON COMPLETION OF THE FEEDING OF A MEASURED LENGTH OF TAPE AND TO SIMULTANEOUSLY PLACE THE MACHINE IN CONDITION FOR ANOTHER TAPE DISPENSING OPERATION. 